Can’t help but be impressed with the way Kopek won lto. He was a bit of a talking horse at the start of the season. His time was v.good too, despite him being not asked to do anything. He was 2 seconds faster than state man (who was hampered) in the championship race.
He’s not the slickest of jumpers but did improve markedly after a poor round of jumping on his first outing over hurdles. Despite that poor performance, he still managed to beat Kawaboomga (who would have been entered in this) by 2¾L. Usually it’s difficult to have form lines on the same day/track. However, there’s an abundance of it for this race from the December 26th Leopardstown meeting.
Kopek Des Bordes: 3m52s 11st7lb
Kawaboomga 2¾L +1S 11st7lb
Workahead 3m52s 11st12lb
William Munny 7L +1s 11st12lb
Workahead needs to be upgraded due to the extra weight, William Munny also needs to be upgraded.
This is where it gets a little interesting. Kawaboomga beats William Munny nto by 1½L or 1 second. It’s the fastest time by a large margin in the three 2m races on the day. They both carry 11st12lb.
On the times and weights, Workahead appears to be the best horse. Unfortunately, Kopek Des Bordes’ jumping improved loads nto so it’s difficult to say for certain where they will place on the day but Workahead would have beaten him off level weights on that day. De Bromhead seems to be coming into form and was bullish about Workahead’s recent training session in an interview today. Form has seen a boost with William Munny’s easy victory, the 3rd placed horse has won twice over hurdles (albeit not at the highest level). The 5th placed horse recently won a class 1 race.
William Munny is interesting as he’s had another run. He sauntered home by 15L without having to push a button. Very similar style to the now champion bumper favourite Gameofinches who was .1s quicker on the same day and distance.
Romeo Coolio is next in the betting. He was 2nd in last year’s bumper so definitely stays up the hill. The ground was described as soft, heavy in places so he has stamina. He bombed out in the Punchestown bumper, coming 5th, 7L behind William Munny who came 3rd.
He beat his stable companion Bleu de vassy lto in Leopardstown on 27th December. He beat him by 9L. He clocked 3m50.9s so 1s faster than the horses the day before. This is a rough I know but the ground did have the same description. However, a form line to Kopek Des Bordes is available through Bleu de vassy. He raced against him nto and beat him by 38L.
I suppose the time was decent. Gordon Elliot wasn’t that bullish on his chances in a preview so maybe not one to focus on.
Salvatore Mundi is next in the betting.
6th in the bumper and only seen in January. He won the Moscow flyer race but the time was the same as the maiden hurdle and they were carrying 8lb less. Nothing in behind has done anything since.
Can’t have him.
Selection:
You can’t help but be impressed by Kopek Des Bordes. He is supposed to be a little revved up and that won’t help him at Cheltenham in the first race. He is a hard bet given the slight niggle about his temperament and, despite his jumping improving markedly, his jumping.
I’m going to chance two at bigger prices
Workahead @13.00
William Munny @15.00
*Sorry for the lengthy write up, it’s my way of analysing the races and then organising my thoughts.